ZEDD

He was delighted his children had succeeded in stealing the power coins. When Tanner, the oldest, approached him, he knew something wasn't right. "You have a traitor, Father," Tanner said.

"All of you were successful... Aside from Tye, and we punished her. That scar on her face will forever remind her of the consequence of failing me," Zedd said. "None of your siblings will betray me."

"It was not any of my mother's children... It's the Sorceress, Father. Your princess is not loyal."

Zedd scowled. "That is a very serious accusation, Tanner."

"She has an affection for the Blue Ranger. It softens her. Yesterday, she saved him from Taylor and Tessa. They were doing fine, but Angeline interfered. She allowed them to have his coin, but she protected him from their magic."

"Are you certain?"

"Tessa told me herself. She was worried you'd be angry with her."

"The child followed my orders and delivered the coin. She has not failed. None of you are strong enough to take on Angeline alone." He shook his head. "I will handle her. Go."

"Yes, Father." Tanner bowed before leaving.

Zedd cast a communication spell he'd been saving for an emergency. Desperate times called for desperate measures.

"Hey, Ed!" Rito cried enthusiastically as Zedd projected before him. "How's my sister?"

Zedd groaned. His brother-in-law had not changed. "It's Zedd, you buffoon!" He shouted.

"You're looking a little see-through there, Ed. Everything okay?"

Zedd was starting to regret his decision. Still, he had no choice but to proceed. "Rito, the time has come for you to help us. Our daughter's loyalties are in question. I need you to remind her why it would be unwise to betray us."

"Sure thing, Ed! Anything for you and Rita! What should I do?"

"Scare her. Terrify her, in fact. Attack her with every inch of brutality you have! I ask only that you not kill her. Just send her a message. We still need her alive."

"Tough love. Got it."

As he broke the communication, Zedd hoped Rito would not fail him for once in his miserable existence.

THORN

He didn't believe what he was seeing at first. "Caleb?" He asked in shock.

Caleb was pale, but other than that, he looked okay. "Thorn!" He cried as he flung himself into his arms. He was trembling violently. "I don't know what's going on... I... I woke up in a morgue, and I stole a pair of scrubs because I couldn't find my clothes, and I've been hiding ever since because... I think I died, Thorn. I don't understand what's happening to me." He was crying.

Thorn held him tightly. "You're here... You're okay..." He started to cry, too. "You're alive... I'm here, Caleb. And I'm never letting you go again. Everything will be okay."

"How?"

"I don't know... We'll figure it out." He kissed him and tried not to think about the fact that he'd slept with someone else the night before. It wasn't your fault, he told himself. Taylor used you. He manipulated you and stole your power coin and it's not your fault...

He was filled with rage. That was a very unfamiliar sensation for Thorn. Suddenly, all he wanted to do was destroy everyone who'd hurt him and Caleb.

"I love you" he said to Caleb. "I love you so much..."

"I love you, too... I'm just so confused," Caleb replied.

"I know... I'll help you figure out what happened." He wanted to tell him the whole truth then and there, but the secret of the Power Rangers had to be protected at all costs... If they were even Power Rangers anymore. Their power coins were gone. They were nothing now...

Thorn started crying harder. "Thorn? Talk to me," Caleb said with concern.

"I just... I'm really glad you're back." That much was true, but Thorn desperately wanted to tell him the rest. He'd kept too many secrets from him, and Caleb deserved better.

KATIE

She spotted her cousin and his very confused-looking boyfriend. "Thank God you found him," Katie said. "Caleb... Are you okay?"

"I don't know," Caleb admitted. "I feel like I'm losing it."

Katie looked at Thorn and could see how badly he wanted to explain things. "You're not crazy, Caleb. You died yesterday."

Caleb and Thorn both stared at her. "How?" Caleb asked.

"My mother..."

Thorn's face turned hard and angry. "What?" He demanded.

"My bitch of a mother turned evil. She injected Caleb with something he was apparently extremely allergic to."

"Aunt Kat... Why? Why would she do that? Are you sure?'" Thorn asked.

"Rocky found the syringe, so she slit his throat. Yeah, I'm sure."

"Oh God... Is Rocky...?"

"He's alive... Now. Sage brought him back."

"Sage brought him back?"

"And then she saved Caleb... But she's stuck, Thorn... Sage is in a coma."

Thorn's face fell. "I thought I couldn't feel her because I was too upset about Caleb..."

"She'll be okay. She's strong. But your mom says this is her Shaman test... And she can't fail this one, or... Or she won't wake up."

"Thorn... Oh God... I'm so sorry," Caleb whispered in horror. He was taking a lot on faith. The kid was good with weird.

Katie sighed. "Executive decision time!" She declared. "Caleb... This happened because my mom used to be evil. She worked for Rita Repulsa and Lord Zedd, and then she walked away... And became the second Pink Ranger."

"Your mom was a Power Ranger?" Caleb asked.

"Katie..." Thorn said with a warning in his tone.

Katie continued speaking. "Yeah... And now she's chosen evil again, and I have to stop her," she said. "...Because I'm the current White Ranger, and I'm co-leader of the team with Sage, the Green Ranger... And I'm telling you all of this because Thorn here is the Black Ranger, and he trusts you, so I do, too. My mother killed you. I think you deserve to know the truth."

Caleb and Thorn were both staring at her again. "I... I'm sorry," Thorn said. "I wanted to tell you."

"My boyfriend is a Power Ranger..." Caleb said in awe. "That explains everything!" He laughed. "You're amazing, Thorn!" He kissed him.

"There. No more secrets," Katie said with a smile. "Enjoy. I need to go track a bitch down."

She walked away knowing she'd done the right thing. She was mildly amused that Caleb hadn't at least asked for proof. It seemed he had no trouble believing his boyfriend was a superhero. She hoped he'd be okay now that he knew the truth.

ANGELINE

She was walking by the Youth Center when she felt an odd presence. Unfortunately, she sensed it too late and whoever it was had her head cracked open before she could react.

She stared at the monster in confusion. He wasn't one of hers. He looked like some freaky talking skeleton. He came at her hard and Angie was too concussed to defend herself. She couldn't remember how to use her magic. She was a sitting duck, and she was positive she was going to die.

Suddenly, someone tapped the monster on his shoulder. He turned around and was immediately kicked in the face. He let out a cry of, "Hey, what gives? I never did anything to you!"

"It's not nice to pick on girls," her rescuer said. Angie stared at him in shock. It was the Pink Ranger, Kenny... The same Pink Ranger who'd lost his power coin the night before, making him completely powerless right now, yet he'd just risked his life to save hers.

"I didn't sign up for this!" The skeleton said as Kenny continued to use his natural speed and agility to attack him. The coward turned and fled.

Kenny took a moment to catch his breath as he extended a hand toward her to help her up. "Are you okay?" He asked.

Angie hesitated. This was the same boy who'd watched and laughed as an innocent child was brutally murdered. How was that possible? Unless Merkhet had tricked her...

Angie took his hand and got back to her feet. She was dizzy and stumbled, but the Pink Ranger steadied her. "Easy," he said gently. "That's a pretty nasty head injury." He tore a strip of his shirt like it was nothing and put pressure on the wound. Angie flinched away from him. "I won't hurt you," he promised quickly. She believed him. "I'm Kenny. You go to Angel Grove High, right? I think I've seen you around."

"Yes," she replied cautiously. "I'm Angie... Angeline, really, but... I sort of like Angie more."

"Nice to meet you, Angie. I wish it had been under better circumstances. Let's get you to a hospital."

"No!" She panicked. Hospitalization meant getting locked down at the group home. She definitely didn't want them watching her that closely, and with her head injury, if anyone tried anything, she couldn't just use a spell to defend herself.

"Angie... You're hurt. You need a doctor." Kenny paused. "What are you afraid of? Maybe I can help."

"I just... I need to lay low for a few days." She looked at her IPod, which had been crushed under the skeleton's feet. It was broken beyond repair. Angeline almost started to cry. It seemed so stupid, but it was the only thing that ever gave her any comfort, and now it was gone.

"That looks pretty bad," Kenny said.

"It's destroyed." She sighed.

"Maybe you can get it fixed... Listen... Do you know why he attacked you?"

"No. I don't even know who he was."

"Rito Revolto. I recognize him from... old news reports."

"Rito?" she repeated.

"Yeah, brother of the infamous Rita Repulsa."

That thing is my uncle? She thought in shock. Why had he attacked her?

"You saved me," she said. If this monster was her mother's brother, he must be insanely powerful. "You could have been killed."

Kenny shrugged. "It was the right thing to do," he replied.

He would never have let Lexa die... They must not have been able to see her. Lexa was mute. She wouldn't have screamed, Angie realized.

"Thank you," Angie managed to say.

"No problem... So, about your head... Can I call your parents?" He asked.

"I don't have any," she said awkwardly. As far as everyone was concerned, that was still true. "I live in a group home."

Kenny looked sympathetic. "One of my best friends just got out of a place like that."

"Josh. I know him."

"He's the best."

"Yeah... Actually... Can I see him, Kenny? He can probably fix my head up. Hospital visits get... complicated when you're an orphan."

Kenny nodded. "Sure, I'll bring you to him."

Angie was relieved. Josh was brilliant. She knew he could take care of her. They arrived at Josh's new home shortly after.

"Angeline?" Josh asked. "What happened?"

"Rito Revolto," Kenny said. "You know, from the news archives?"

Josh's eyes went wide. "Rito hasn't been seen since the Power Rangers defeated his sister and her husband... Why would he attack you, Angeline?"

"Angie's not sure... Maybe it was for kicks? Who knows?" Kenny asked. "The point is, she's hurt, and... Well, she didn't want to go to the hospital."

Josh nodded. He was already looking at her injuries. "Come on," he said. "I can clean that up for you."

He was remarkably gentle as he tended to her wounds. Angie almost told him everything. It was tempting. He was her friend, and he was taking care of her, and one of his friends had committed a selfless act by saving her life even though he had no way to protect himself. Maybe she'd been wrong about them. Maybe the Power Rangers weren't the real enemy.

Your parents are trapped in jail because of them, she reminded herself. Or because of their parents, anyway... And they would never accept you if they knew who you really were.

"So, what are you into?" Kenny asked in an attempt to distract her as Josh cleaned out the gash on her head.

"Not much," Angie said with a shrug. "I keep to myself, mostly... Listen to music, watch stupid movies on my IPod..." She frowned. "Or I did, anyway..."

Kenny touched her arm. "I guess you can't just replace it... What sort of stuff do you like to watch?"

"Monster High," she said before realizing how lame she must sound. "I know, I know... It's pathetic. But I always felt like a bit of a freak, with no parents and moving between group homes and foster families all the time... It was comforting."

"That's not pathetic. And hey, it's totally cool to watch cheesy stuff. I watch wrestling, which is really ridiculous at times, but I love it. In fact, when my wonderful gymnastics career inevitably comes to an end, I'm thinking of becoming a wrestler... But please don't tell my mom that." He flashed her a really bright smile and she couldn't help but smile back.

"You're a gymnast?"

"He's a gold medalist," Josh said proudly. "Kenny's pretty much the best gymnast in Angel Grove... Probably in all of California."

"I don't know about that," Kenny said awkwardly. "But yeah, I'm a gymnast. It's kind of my entire life."

"That's kind of cool," Angie said honestly. She didn't know a whole lot about gymnastics, but she understood now why Kenny moved with such agility.

"There," Josh said. "You're all patched up."

"Thanks, Josh. I owe you," she said.

"You owe me nothing. Just take care of yourself, okay?"

She nodded. "I have to go back... It's getting late."

Josh hesitated. "I wish you could stay here. I don't like knowing you're stuck in that place."

"It's okay. I'm fine."

He didn't say anything else, but Angie knew he was worried about her. Kenny insisted on walking her back to the group home. She didn't protest. It was nice to have company for once. For a moment, she almost felt normal.

TANYA

She was still trying to come up with a plan to rescue Aisha when she discovered something unexpected. Tanya walked in on Tia levitating in the air. She gasped, which must have startled the girl, because Tia dropped down and just barely managed to land on her feet.

"You... You have magic," Tanya said.

"Yes," Tia admitted. "I can do that, and I can travel places... I walk the realms."

"Amazing! Tia, if I figure out where your mother is, do you think you can get us to her?"

"Yes. I know that I can..."

Imani ran over to them. "I have magic, too!" She said cheerfully.

"Mani, shush!" Tia said harshly. "You can't tell just anyone that sort of thing. Mama warned you about that."

"But you told her, and Mama trusts her, so she's okay!" Imani insisted. "I can talk to animals. They're my friends. They understand me, and I understand them, and it's really cool!"

Tanya smiled at the younger girl. "Do you want to show me, Mani?"

Imani nodded eagerly and practically dragged Tanya outside. She found a lioness not far from them. "Come, Friend!" She called. The lioness, to Tanya's amazement, came toward the child. She knelt beside her and let Imani play with her fur. "This is Ashanti. She's my friend. Right, Ashanti?" Imani asked. The lioness rubbed her nose against Imani's face in response.

"That's incredible, Mani," Tanya told her honestly. Aisha had a gift for working with animals, too, but she'd never mentioned being able to fully communicate with them like her daughter apparently could.

Suddenly, Alpha appeared before her. "Aye-yi-yi!" He shouted as he spotted her. "Tanya! You must come home. Something's happened."

"What's wrong, Alpha?" Tanya asked.

"The children's power coins were stolen! Aye-yi-yi, it's horrible! Maddie needs you, Tanya. She was attacked, and she's with Jason, but I believe she needs her mother."

"Attacked? Is she alright?"

"She is safe. I do not, however, believe she is alright."

Tanya looked at Imani. She noticed Tia had come out to check on them. "I have to go home," she said. "My daughter needs me... But I promise I'll come back for you soon, and we will find your mother."

"Go to your daughter," Tia said. "We will be fine here until the time is right."

Tanya nodded. She hugged the girls before taking Alpha's hand. He teleported them both back to the Command Center, and from there, she rushed to Jason's house to be there for her daughter.

KAT

She was in hiding now. Kat realized she had no choice. With Rocky alive again, everyone would know her secret. She had run to the only place she might be safe... Merkhet's lair.

"You may stay as long as you do Rita's bidding," Merkhet said with a dismissive wave of her hand that implied she couldn't care less if Kat stuck around or not.

Kat began wandering around, exploring her new home. It was filled with evil artifacts, potions, and magical tools. She could get used to this. The darkness and power surrounding her called to her very core.

She looked at the scrying mirror Merkhet had put down. She touched it, and it came to life. She knew what these devices could do. "Show me Tommy," she said.

Suddenly, Tommy appeared in the mirror. He stood with several people she didn't recognize. "Welcome, Megaforce Rangers. Thank you all for coming on such short notice," he said.

"Anything for you, Tommy Oliver, Sir..." One of them said eagerly. He looked like he might wet himself.

"Dude, could you possibly nerd out more, Noah?" Another teased him.

"He's Tommy Freaking Oliver, Jake!" Noah objected.

Tommy smiled at them indulgently. "Ugh," Kat mumbled. "It's Tommy's fan club..."

"We're happy to help," a girl said sweetly. She radiated Pink Ranger.

"Thank you, Emma," Tommy said.

"Going to screw her next, Tommy?" Kat asked bitterly.

"So, what do you need us to do?" The last girl asked. She must be the Yellow Ranger.

"Well, Gia, as Troy told you, our current Power Rangers have had their power coins stolen. Only the Red, Green, and White power coins remain safe. With that being the case, we need a team of Rangers to protect Angel Grove until we get them back. Zeke, our Red Ranger, will be around to help you in any way you need. Unfortunately, our Green Ranger is in the hospital in a coma... And our White Ranger is my daughter, Katie. She's got a mission of her own."

"What's my little brat up to?" Kat wondered. She decided she might need to know that information, so she shifted her focus away from Tommy and his pathetic flock of groupies. "Show me Katie!"

The mirror obliged. Katie appeared in the frame. She was with an unusual Zord, and Kat realized she might be in trouble. It was the wild Zord Katie had tamed to get Billy back.

"Come on, Buddy. I need your help," Katie said. "We need to hunt down my bitch of a mother."

Kat jumped back from the mirror and the image faded. Katie was coming for her, and she had the one thing that might actually be able to get to her. Kat knew if she didn't think of something soon, she'd be screwed.

KENNY

He struggled not to think about what had happened to him the day before. He had been feeling stupid and sort of useless without his powers, but when he'd seen a girl in trouble, he hadn't hesitated to help her. Kenny was glad to know he could still fight the good fight, even if he didn't have his power coin.

Now that it was late, and he was alone, he was troubled by everything again. He didn't really know what to do. He tried to focus on anything else and found himself thinking about Angie. Rito had to have attacked her for a reason, even if she didn't know what it was. He had been missing for way too long. It couldn't have been random.

The more Kenny thought about Angie, the more he wanted to help her. She'd looked so devastated when she realized her IPod was broken. He knew how hard it was for someone to live in a group home. He'd seen it with Josh. Angie had been in the system for her entire life. She literally had no one she could rely on, but that IPod had given her comfort. Kenny really wanted to do something to make her feel better.

When morning came, he still hadn't slept. He didn't want to sleep, because whenever he tried, flashes of the night before hit him. He didn't want to remember. He just wanted to pretend it had never happened. He took a shower and got dressed, running out before anyone else noticed he was up. He rushed to the store and set his plan in motion.

Kenny had been saving up money for a long time. He wasn't sure what he was saving for... A rainy day, he supposed. Today, however, he had found a purpose for his money. He purchased the item and walked to the group home.

Angie sat on the steps looking lost as she stared into space. "Hey, Angie," he called.

"Kenny?" She asked with surprise.

"Yeah... I have something for you." He handed her the bag.

Angie looked at it questioningly before pulling out the box inside. Her eyes went wide as she saw the brand new and fully upgraded IPod. "You... You bought this for... me?" She asked.

"Yeah. I don't think anyone should have to lose the one thing that gives them comfort, so I replaced it for you."

She stared at him. She looked like she might cry, but she held herself together. "I can't accept this," she said. "It's way too expensive."

"Money doesn't mean much to me... But the look of joy on your face? That does." He smiled at her. "Keep it. Please. Josh is great with technology. I'm sure he can recover your old files and get them on here for you."

She hesitated for a moment before hugging him. "No one has ever done something like this for me before," she whispered.

"Well, someone should."

She rested her head on his shoulder for a moment. He got the impression Angie wasn't used to being held. He hugged her a little tighter, and she didn't seem to mind. "You're incredible, Kenny," she said after a moment. "You're literally the most selfless person I've ever met."

"You must not know many good people, then," he said.

"No... No, I don't." She pulled away slowly and smiled at him. "Thank you... This means more than you can possibly understand."

Kenny knew he'd done the right thing. "Do you want to get some breakfast? My treat."

She hesitated before nodding. "Sure. That sounds like fun."

Kenny led her away and for a little while, he forgot about how much he had been hurting. He liked Angie. He was glad he'd met her, even if the circumstances had been kind of crazy. He had a feeling he'd be seeing a lot more of her now, and he decided that he didn't mind.

KATIE
Her favorite Zord friend was nothing if not reliable. It found her mother quickly, and it happily opened the wormhole into her realm. "Katie!" Her mother gasped.

"Bitch," Katie greeted her in response. She attacked her mother before she could do much.

"Katie, sweetheart, I'm your mother! Please, give me a chance to explain!"

"Explain how you betrayed us? How you turned on Dad, and everything he stands for? Or explain how you murdered Thorn's boyfriend? How you left him to die in Thorn's arms? Or what about how you slit Rocky's throat? What about that? Is that what you wanted to explain to me, Mom?" Katie was so full of rage, nothing else mattered. Her mother had gone way too far, and she had to stop her from hurting anyone else.

"I had to! Rocky found the syringe."

"The syringe you used to kill an innocent teenager!"

"Yes. That syringe. Back off, Katherine, or-"

"Don't call me that! I want nothing to do with you, including your name!"

"Leave this place. I don't want to have to hurt you!"

Katie laughed. "You? Hurt me? In your dreams!" She attacked her mother swiftly, knocking her down. Her mother tried to raise energy for some sort of magical retaliation, but Katie shoved her into the Zord before she could pull it off. She got in beside her and hit her mother, knocking her unconscious, before telling the Zord, "Okay, Buddy. Take us home."

Katie wasn't sure what would happen next, but she'd captured the bitch. It was a start. Her father and the others could discuss what should be done to handle her, but in the end, Katie knew that would be her job. It was a hard thing to cope with, but she was trying not to dwell on it. Still, she was prepared to do whatever had to be done, even if it meant she had to kill her own mother.

She's not my mother, Katie told herself. She's just an evil bitch, and she's not my mother anymore. She took a deep breath and got control of her emotions as the Zord took them back to Angel Grove.